Residents of subdivision near Linden and Hill roads disagree on road repairs

Laura Angus | Swartz Creek NewsJohn Trecha, 77, of Mundy Township petitioned to stop work on a project to repair the roads in his subdivision near Linden and Hill roads because he said people can't afford it. If it is halted, residents may have to pay for work done so far.

MUNDY TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A 2006 petition signed by residents to repair the roads in a subdivision at Linden and Hill roads has been countered by another petition, and it may cost residents who signed the first petition and delay repairs on parts of the roads that need improvement.

The project was initiated when residents petitioned for the work in May 2007, and would have involved a total reconstruction — tearing out the old roads and putting in new roads — of Lin Hill Drive, Bloss Court, Bloss Drive, Oak Creek Court and Oak Creek Drive. The Mundy Township Board voted to cover 25 percent of the cost to repair the roads.

"We want the roads fixed, but we don't agree with a total reconstruct," said John Trecha, 77, who circulated the second petition.

In February, after the economic downturn and learning a homeowner with a 90-foot lot would have been assessed more than $5,500 for the work, Trecha circulated the petition to discontinue the project. He also suggested scaling back the project, and sought quotes for portions of the project that could be done for less money.

William Salisbury, 72, said it is reasonable to want to do the project less expensively, but Trecha waited until the engineering work was done to circulate his petition. Residents who signed the first petition may be assessed for the engineering costs, even if the roads are not repaired.

"I just think it's absolutely unfair for these people to come in at the last minute after all the engineering has been done, all the drawing has been done, all the core drill has been done, all the total charges added up — they come in and say they don't want it," he said.

Genesee County Road Commission Manager-Director John Daly said if the signatures on the second petition are verified, and the owners of more than 51 percent of the lineal frontage on the roads signed, the project would be scrapped.

"I think what's changed a lot of this is the economy," he said. "It's certainly understandable that people are looking at things differently say 15 months ago than they are today."

The work could still get done, but Mundy Township would have to start the process over again, he said. The Genesee County Road Commission no longer runs special assessment districts.

Restarting the process will take more time, and residents may have to pick up the bill for the engineering work that has been done on the project to date. Daly said those who signed the original petition may be assessed those costs under Michigan statutes.

"That's been a common practice," he said.

Mundy Township Supervisor David Guigear said he hopes a compromise could be reached to avoid the delay, and to avoid residents having to waste those engineering dollars.

"I want to salvage anything I can," he said.

Guigear, who lives in the subdivision, said he didn't think scaling the project back was that dramatic of a departure from the original plan, and this could delay the project by a year.

"It's just disappointing because then it'd have to go through that whole process again, and I think it's unnecessary," he said.

Trecha said there are aspects of the project that don't make sense — like replacing bigger sections of curb than needed, and pulling out roads that are in good repair. He obtained quotes for some of the work and found cheaper prices.

He thinks some of the roads should be resurfaced, and other areas should be reconstructed.

Salisbury said some residents may not be able to afford it, but since the township was contributing to the cost of the project, it made sense to do it now.

"That price that we got is the absolute best price that you're ever going to get," he said.

Guigear said it was up to the current Township Board to decide whether it would still cover 25 percent of the cost for the project. The previous Township Board voted to cover that part of the cost, and it was one of the last projects to get that funding.

There will be a public hearing about the project — technically the second public hearing for the first petition — at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mundy Township Hall, 3478 Mundy Ave.